Top tech companies like Apple and Microsoft are increasingly looking to Atlanta as a hub for finding Black talent.

• Atlanta is attracting major tech companies due to its abundant technology talent, particularly among the Black population.
• The city is seeing the establishment of offices by West Coast companies such as Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Visa.
• Over the past decade, numerous Atlanta-based companies have achieved valuations of over $1 billion.

Atlanta is attracting major tech companies due to its abundant technology talent, particularly among the Black population.

In recent years, both Silicon Valley-based and Redmond, Washington-based companies have established a presence in Atlanta.

The payments giant, headquartered near San Francisco, is also opening a new office in Atlanta later this year, with its chief diversity officer based there, focusing on building connections with start-ups and workers.

Michelle Gethers-Clark, Visa's diversity chief, stated to CNBC that the company recognizes that its customer base encompasses the Black community and is committed to having a diverse workforce.

According to CBRE's 2021 report, Atlanta, located in Georgia, is the eighth-best city for sourcing tech talent and produces the most technology graduates per year in the U.S.

Atlanta has experienced a 15% increase in tech jobs over the past five years, similar to other prominent tech cities, including the San Francisco Bay Area's 16% growth and Austin, Texas' 10% increase, according to CBRE.

Nakia Melecio, founder of catalyst iDesignproject in Atlanta, stated that the city is uniquely positioned to redefine what tech should look like. She emphasized that Atlanta's ecosystem is robust, inviting, and supportive of Black tech talent, ensuring they have access to resources and opportunities for growth.

The greater Atlanta area has numerous tech incubators, accelerators, and innovation centers that offer support, mentorship, and networking opportunities for start-ups, including the Atlanta Tech Village, Atlanta Tech Park, and Propel, an HBCU tech hub backed by Apple and an Atlanta-based power firm.

Over the past decade, more than a dozen Atlanta-based companies have achieved unicorn status by growing to valuations above $1 billion.

In 2021, a digital asset marketplace went public, while Kabbage, a small business data provider, was acquired by American Express. Additionally, Calendly, a scheduling platform, now has a valuation of over $3 billion.

Tope Awotona, the Black founder of Calendly, stated that the success of his start-up and others demonstrated that tech can flourish in Atlanta.

Atlanta has attracted a significant number of investors seeking to invest in start-ups, according to Awotona, who spoke to CNBC.

He remarked that it has been exciting to observe.